As the core vehicle for preserving and transmitting traditional Chinese medicine（TCM） academic thought and clinical experience， the establishment of a robust quality evaluation system for TCM clinical case reports is a crucial component in the current standardization and modernization of TCM. Based on the practical experience of constructing the China Clinical Cases Library of Traditional Chinese Medicine by the China Association of Chinese Medicine， this study conducted a comprehensive analysis of critical challenges， including insufficient authenticity and unfocused evaluation criteria. It proposed a three-dimensional evaluation framework grounded in the structure-process-outcome logic， encompassing three dimensions of authenticity and standardization， characteristics and advantages， application and translational impact. This framework integrated 12 key evaluation indicators in a systematic manner. The model preserved the academic characteristics of TCM syndrome differentiation and treatment， while aligning with modern scientific research standards， achieving a balance between individualized TCM experience and standardized evaluation. Concurrently， this study provided theoretical foundations and methodological guidance for evaluating the quality of TCM clinical cases， contributing significantly to the inheritance of TCM knowledge， evidence-based practice， and the reform of talent evaluation mechanisms.

The Type III Secretion System (T3SS) serves as a pivotal virulence apparatus for numerous Gram-negative bacterial pathogens, enabling them to infect both animal and plant hosts. Functioning as a molecular syringe, the T3SS directly translocates bacterial effector proteins from the bacterial cytoplasm into the interior of eukaryotic host cells. These effectors are central weapons that precisely manipulate a wide spectrum of host cellular physiological processes, ranging from cytoskeletal dynamics to immune signaling, to establish a favorable niche for bacterial survival and proliferation. Among the diverse arsenal of T3SS effectors, the YopJ family constitutes a critical group of virulence factors. Members of this family are characterized by a conserved catalytic triad structure—a hallmark of the CE clan of cysteine proteases that has been evolutionarily repurposed to confer acetyltransferase activity. A defining and intriguing feature of these enzymes is their stringent dependence on a host-derived eukaryotic cofactor, inositol hexakisphosphate (IP₆), for allosteric activation. This requirement acts as a sophisticated molecular safeguard, ensuring enzymatic activity only within the appropriate host environment, thereby preventing detrimental effects on the bacterium itself. While seminal studies on individual members such as Yersinia’s YopJ and Salmonella’s AvrA have provided deep mechanistic insights, a systematic and integrative understanding of the structure-function relationships across the entire family remains fragmented. Key questions persist regarding how a conserved catalytic core has diverged to recognize distinct host substrates in different kingdoms of life. To address this gap, this article provides a systematic review of the YopJ family, focusing on three interconnected aspects: their structural features, their catalytic mechanism, and their divergent immunosuppressive strategies in animal versus plant hosts. By conducting a comparative analysis of the sequences and resolved three-dimensional structures of three representative members (e.g., HopZ1a, PopP2, AvrA), we elucidate regions of significant variation embedded within the conserved core catalytic architecture. These variable regions, often involving surface loops and substrate-binding interfaces, are crucial determinants of target specificity and functional specialization. The functional divergence of this effector family is most apparent when comparing their modes of action in different hosts. In animal hosts, YopJ-family effectors primarily sabotage innate immune signaling pathways. They achieve this by acetylating key serine and threonine residues within the activation loops of critical kinases in the MAPK and NF‑κB pathways. This post-translational modification blocks the phosphorylation and subsequent activation of these kinases, leading to potent suppression of inflammatory cytokine production. Conversely, in plant hosts, the strategy broadens to dismantle the two-tiered plant immune system. YopJ homologs target a more diverse set of substrates, including immune-associated receptor-like cytoplasmic kinases (RLCKs), microtubule networks via tubulin acetylation (which disrupts cellular trafficking and signaling), and transcription factors central to defense gene regulation. This multi-target approach effectively suppresses both Pattern-Triggered Immunity (PTI) and Effector-Triggered Immunity (ETI). In conclusion, this synthesis aims to deepen the mechanistic understanding of YopJ family-mediated pathogenesis by integrating structural biology with cellular function across host kingdoms. Elucidating the precise molecular basis for substrate selection—how conserved platforms achieve target diversity—is a major frontier. Furthermore, this knowledge provides a vital theoretical foundation for developing novel anti-virulence strategies. Targeting the conserved IP₆-binding pocket or the catalytic acetyltransferase activity itself represents a promising avenue for designing broad-spectrum inhibitors that could disarm this critical family of bacterial effectors, potentially offering new therapeutic approaches against a range of pathogenic bacteria.

Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) resources are the essential material foundation for the development of TCM. The national survey of TCM resources serves as a periodic summary of these resources, ensuring the continuity, prosperity, and development of TCM in China. Since 1949, four national surveys of TCM resources have been conducted. The fourth survey incorporated an investigation into traditional knowledge related to TCM resources, including the traditional medicinal knowledge of Chinese ethnic minorities, with the goal of systematically exploring, preserving, and inheriting this knowledge. This manuscript provides an overview of the basic findings from the first three national surveys of TCM resources, while also clarifying the concepts, categories, forms, carriers, and acquisition pathways of traditional knowledge related to TCM resources. A preliminary summary of the findings from traditional knowledge investigations reported in current literature is also presented. Based on the fourth survey, this manuscript emphasizes the urgency of developing public medical knowledge through empirically-based investigations, the excavation, and compilation of traditional knowledge. It also outlines the potential for conducting "precise" investigations based on first-hand data obtained from the survey, as well as facilitating the discovery and evaluation of new medicines using traditional knowledge related to ethnic minority medicinal practices. This manuscript is expected to provide valuable insights for promoting the health and industrial development of ethnic minority populations in the post-"survey" phase.
Humans ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; China/ethnology* ; Minority Groups ; Ethnicity ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice/ethnology* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To develop a predictive model for postoperative mortality risk in patients with acute aortic dissection(AAD)using the Extreme Gradient Boosting(XGBoost)algorithm combined with Shapley Additive Explanation(SHAP),and to establish a prediction website to serve as a diagnostic and therapeutic support platform for clinicians and patients.Methods A retrospective cohort study design was adopted.Data from 782 AAD patients who underwent surgical treatment at the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2013 to December 2023 were collected,including basic information and initial serum biomarker test results.Patients were randomly divided into training and test sets at a 7:3 ratio.An external validation set consisting of 313 AAD patients admitted to the Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University from January 2020 to December 2023 was also established for further model validation.Variables were screened using LASSO regression,and an XGBoost machine learning model was constructed and interpreted using SHAP.The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curve analysis.Using the Shiny package,the XGBoost model was deployed to shinyapps.io to create a prediction website for postoperative mortality risk in AAD patients.One patient was selected by simple random sampling from the test set and the external validation set respectively for the prediction example on the Shiny webpage.Results The XGBoost model demonstrated high predictive performance for postoperative mortality in AAD patients,with area under the ROC curve(AUC)values of 0.928(95%CI 0.901-0.956)in the training set,0.919(95%CI 0.891-0.949)in the test set,and 0.941(95%CI 0.915-0.967)in the external validation set.SHAP values indicated the following order of variable importance in the model(from highest to lowest):"lactate dehydrogenase""blood chlorine""multiple organ injury""carbon dioxide combining power""prothrombin time""α-hydroxybutyric acid""creatine kinase isoenzyme""Stanford classification""combined use of bedside blood purification""gender""acute kidney injury""gastrointestinal bleeding""brain injury"and"shock".A risk prediction website for adverse postoperative outcomes in AAD patients was developed using XGBoost-SHAP method(https://dun-dunxiaolu.shinyapps.io/document/)and validated with examples.One randomly selected patient from each of the test and external validation sets was applied:the predicted mortality risk value for patient 1(who died postoperatively)was 0.9539,and that for patient 2(who survived postoperatively)was 0.0206.Conclusions The XGBoost-SHAP model demonstrates high accuracy in predicting postoperative mortality risk for AAD patients.The online prediction tool established based on this model enhances the identification efficiency of high-risk postoperative mortality patients.

Sarcopenia, an age-related degenerative skeletal muscle disorder characterized by progressive loss of muscle mass, diminished strength, and impaired physical function, poses substantial challenges to global healthy aging initiatives. The pathogenesis of this condition is fundamentally rooted in mitochondrial dysfunction, manifested through defective energy metabolism, disrupted redox equilibrium, imbalanced dynamics, and compromised organelle quality control. This comprehensive review elucidates the central role of exercise-induced mitochondrial hormesis as a critical adaptive mechanism counteracting sarcopenia. Mitohormesis represents an evolutionarily conserved stress response wherein sublethal mitochondrial perturbations, particularly transient low-dose reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during muscle contraction, activate cytoprotective signaling cascades rather than inflicting macromolecular damage. The mechanistic foundation of this process involves ROS functioning as essential signaling molecules that activate the Keap1 nuclear factor erythroid 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant response element pathway. This activation drives transcriptional upregulation of phase II detoxifying enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), thereby enhancing cellular redox buffering capacity. Crucially, Nrf2 engages in bidirectional molecular crosstalk with peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), the principal regulator orchestrating mitochondrial biogenesis through coordinated induction of nuclear respiratory factors 1 and 2 (NRF1/2) along with mitochondrial transcription factor A (Tfam), collectively facilitating mitochondrial DNA replication and respiratory complex assembly. Concurrently, exercise-induced alterations in cellular energy status, specifically diminished ATP to AMP ratios, potently activate AMP activated protein kinase (AMPK). This energy-sensing kinase phosphorylates PGC-1α while concomitantly stimulating NAD dependent deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activity, which further potentiates PGC-1α function through post-translational deacetylation. The integrated AMPK/PGC-1α/SIRT1 axis coordinates mitochondrial biogenesis, optimizes network architecture through regulation of fusion proteins mitofusin 1 (Mfn1), mitofusin 2 (Mfn2) and optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1), and enhances clearance of damaged organelles via selective activation of mitophagy receptors BCL2 interacting protein 3 (Bnip1) and FUN14 domain containing 1 (FNDC1). Exercise further stimulates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt), increasing molecular chaperones such as heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and HSP10 to preserve proteostasis. Within the mitochondrial matrix, SIRT3 fine-tunes metabolic flux through deacetylation of electron transport chain components, improving phosphorylation efficiency while attenuating pathological ROS emission. Distinct exercise modalities differentially engage these pathways. Aerobic endurance training primarily activates AMPK/PGC-1α signaling and UPRmt to expand mitochondrial volume and oxidative capacity. Resistance training exploits mechanical tension to acutely stimulate mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) mediated protein synthesis while modulating dynamin related protein 1 (Drp1) phosphorylation dynamics to support mitochondrial network reorganization. High intensity interval training generates potent metabolic oscillations that rapidly amplify AMPK/PGC-1α and Nrf2 activation, demonstrating particular efficacy in insulin-resistant phenotypes. Strategically designed concurrent training regimens synergistically integrate these adaptations. Mitochondrial-nuclear communication through tricarboxylic acid cycle metabolites and mitochondrially derived peptides such as mitochondrial open reading frame of 12s rRNA-c (MOTS-c) coordinates systemic metabolic reprogramming, with exercise-responsive myokines including fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF-21) mediating inter-tissue signaling to reduce inflammation and enhance insulin sensitivity. This integrated framework provides the scientific foundation for precision exercise interventions targeting mitochondrial pathophysiology in sarcopenia, incorporating biomarker monitoring and exploring pharmacological potentiators including nicotinamide riboside and MOTS-c mimetics. Future investigations should delineate temporal dynamics of mitohormesis signaling and epigenetic regulation to optimize therapeutic approaches for age-related muscle decline.

Objective: To explore the key factors affecting the selection and effectiveness of bladder management modalities in patients with spinal cord injury，so as to provide reference for the optimization of individualized bladder management strategies. Methods: The clinical and follow-up data of 78 patients with spinal cord injury treated in our hospital during Jan.1,2013 and Dec.31,2022 were retrospectively analyzed.The distribution of bladder management modalities among different grades of injuries was analyzed. Bowker symmetry test was used to evaluate the difference between bladder management modalities at discharge and at the end of follow-up. Multiple linear regression was used to explore the influencing factors of bladder management effects. Plotting Kaplan-Meier survival curves were adopted to calculate the median time of changes in bladder management. Results: At discharge，there were 9 cases of self-catheterization，19 cases of intermittent catheterization，22 cases of reflexive voiding，26 cases of long-term catheterization，and 2 cases using urinary collector.At the end of follow-up，there were 15 cases of self-catheterization，8 cases of intermittent catheterization，34 cases of reflexive voiding，14 cases of long-term catheterization，and 7 cases using urinary collector.There was a significant difference between the modalities of bladder management at discharge and at the end of follow-up (χ =21.43，P=0.018).Multiple linear regression showed a significant decrease of 8.60 in the total neurogenic bladder symptom score (NBSS) for grade D injuries compared with grade A injuries (P=0.026). The median time to bladder management change was 7.93 months (95%CI:5.44-9.44), with approximately 50% of patients experiencing a change in bladder management within 8 months after discharge. Conclusion: The modalities of bladder management changed significantly after discharge.The grade of injury was a key factor affecting the effectiveness of bladder management.Higher grade was associated with worse effectiveness of bladder management.

Objective Integrating ideological and political education into university curricula is an effective approach for nurturing moral integrity and holistic education. This study aims to explore the effective incorporation of the “two bombs, one satellite” spirit into the ideological and political education of the Nuclear Electronics course, find an effective way to enhance student professional literacy and ideological and political awareness, and achieve collaborative educational objectives. Methods Using the Nuclear Electronics course as a case study and aligning with the educational positioning of the university and the major, objectives were established for knowledge acquisition, skill development, and ideological and political education. A case repository of ideological and political education tailored to the course was constructed by integrating ideological and political elements such as the “two bombs, one satellite” to reinforce foundational knowledge and expand into cutting-edge topics. An instructional paradigm that combines theory with practical application and integrates online and offline resources was adopted. To stimulate student engagement of learning, improve the quality of learning, and strengthen ideological and moral education, a comprehensive assessment framework was devised. Results The effectiveness of ideological and political education was evaluated by comparing the course performance between the experimental group (with curriculum ideology and politics reform) and the control group (without curriculum ideology and politics reform). The experimental group showed 20.5% and 31.3% improvements in short-answer questions and calculation problems, respectively. A comparison of survey questionnaire scores and final grades revealed a strong correlation between student awareness of curriculum ideology and politics and their academic performance. The study demonstrated that this approach increased student interest in learning, enhanced their recognition and pride in major national scientific achievements, and achieved an organic integration of knowledge impartation and value guidance. Conclusion This study confirms the effectiveness of integrating the “two bombs, one satellite” spirit into the ideological and political education of the Nuclear Electronics course. This approach provides new ideas and methods for ideological and political education in universities, achieves the goal of collaborative education, and is of great significance in improving the quality of talent cultivation in higher education.

ObjectiveIn nature, objects cast shadows due to illumination, forming the basis for stereoscopic perception. Birds need to adapt to changes in lighting (meaning they can recognize stereoscopic shapes even when shadows look different) to accurately perceive different three-dimensional forms. However, how neurons in the key visual brain area in birds handle these lighting changes remains largely unreported. In this study, pigeons (Columba livia) were used as subjects to investigate how neurons in pigeon’s ventrolateral mesopallium (MVL) represent stereoscopic shapes consistently, regardless of changes in lighting. MethodsVisual cognitive training combined with neuronal recording was employed. Pigeons were first trained to discriminate different stereoscopic shapes (concave/convex). We then tested whether and how light luminance angle and surface appearance of the stereoscopic shapes affect their recognition accuracy, and further verify whether the results rely on specify luminance color. Simultaneously, neuronal firing activity of neurons was recorded with multiple electrode array implanted from the MVL during the presentation of difference shapes. The response was finally analyzed how selectively they responded to different stereoscopic shapes and whether their selectivity was affected by the changes of luminance condition (like lighting angle) or surface look. Support vector machine (SVM) models were trained on neuronal population responses recorded under one condition (light luminance angle of 45°) and used to decode responses under other conditions (light luminance angle of 135°, 225°, 315°) to verify the invariance of responses to different luminance conditions. ResultsBehavioral results from 6 pigeons consistently showed that the pigeons could reliably identify the core 3D shape (over 80% accuracy), and this ability wasn’t affected by changes in light angle or surface appearance. Statistical analysis of 88 recorded neurons from 6 pigeons revealed that 83% (73/88) showed strong selectivity for specific 3D shapes (selectivity index>0.3), and responses to convex shapes were consistently stronger than to concave shapes. These shape-selective responses remained stable across changes in light angle and surface appearance. Neural patterns were consistent under both blue and orange lighting. The decoding accuracy achieves above 70%, suggesting stable responses under different conditions (e.g., different lighting angles or surface appearance). ConclusionNeurons in the pigeon MVL maintain a consistent neural encoding pattern for different stereoscopic shapes, unaffected by illumination or surface appearance. This ensures stable object recognition by pigeons in changing visual environments. Our findings provide new physiological evidence for understanding how birds achieve stable perception (“invariant neural representations”) while coping with variations in the visual field.

OBJECTIVE: Huachansu injection (HCSI), a promising anti-cancer Chinese medicine injection, has been reported to have the potential for reducing the toxicity of chemotherapy and improving the quality of life for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. The objective of this study is to explore the synergistic and detoxifying effects of HCSI when used in combination with irinotecan (CPT-11). METHODS: To investigate the effect of HCSI on anti-CRC efficacy and intestinal toxicity of CPT-11, we measured changes in the biological behavior of LoVo cells in vitro, and anti-tumor effects in LoVo cell xenograft nude mice models in vivo. Meanwhile, the effect of HCSI on intestinal toxicity and the uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) expression was investigated in the CPT-11-induced colitis mouse model. Subsequently, we measured the effect of HCSI and its 13 constituent bufadienolides on the expression of UGT1A1 and organic anion transporting polypeptides 1B3 (OATP1B3) in HepG2 cells. RESULTS: The combination index (CI) results showed that the combination of HCSI and CPT-11 exhibited a synergistic effect (CI < 1), which significantly suppressing the LoVo cell migration, enhancing G2/M and S phase arrest, and inhibiting tumor growth in vivo. Additionally, the damage to intestinal tissues was attenuated by HCSI in CPT-11-induced colitis model, while the increased expression of UGT1A1 in HepG2 cells and in mouse was observed. CONCLUSION The co-therapy with HCSI alleviated the intestinal toxicity induced by CPT-11 and exerted an enhanced anti-CRC effect. The detoxifying mechanism may be related to the increased expression of UGT1A1 and OATP1B3 by HCSI and its bufadienolides components. The findings of this study may serve as a theoretical insights and strategies to improve CRC patient outcomes. Please cite this article as: Jiang B, Meng ZY, Hu YJ, Chen JJ, Zong L, Xu LY, Zhang XQ, Zhang JX, Han YL. Huachansu injection enhances anti-colorectal cancer efficacy of irinotecan and alleviates its induced intestinal toxicity through upregulating UGT1A1-OATP1B3 expression in vitro and in vivo. J Integr Med. 2025; 23(5):576-590.
Irinotecan/therapeutic use* ; Animals ; Glucuronosyltransferase/genetics* ; Humans ; Colorectal Neoplasms/metabolism* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Mice, Nude ; Mice ; Up-Regulation/drug effects* ; Male ; Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Hep G2 Cells ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Intestines/drug effects* ; Amphibian Venoms